The Beginning...
If you are reading this, most likely you have heard the news. We did it! On Wednesday, April 21st at 2:00 in the afternoon we ran off to Deacon Timothy Pratt Bed & Breakfast in Old Saybrook (http://pratthouse.net/) and tied the knot! Some of you are probably thinking “What made you do it? Why did you run off?” and still others are thinking “What took you so long?” But however you see it, we think the timing was perfect – worth the wait – and we are excited about starting our new life together. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself…let me start at the beginning….
THE MEETING
I’m sure most everyone reading this knows the story, but a quick re-cap for the one or two who don’t. David and I worked for the same company: me in Dallas and he in Hartford. He works in IT and was our “help desk” when we ran into computer problems. Needless to say, me not being particularly computer savvy, we talked a lot. One of our first phone conversations, I pulled the phone cord out of the wall in an attempt to unplug the computer from the monitor…..DEFINITELY CHALLENGED! He would come into town to work in our office occasionally when the task called for a live person. I’ll just say this: I don’t believe in love at first sight. I think that’s silly. Love is a decision, it’s a choice, it’s work and it’s not always pretty. But after meeting David I will say that I DEFINITELY believe in that “connection” at first sight. From the first time I met him, I wanted to be near him. It reminds me of the Brian Andreas saying:
THE MEETING
I’m sure most everyone reading this knows the story, but a quick re-cap for the one or two who don’t. David and I worked for the same company: me in Dallas and he in Hartford. He works in IT and was our “help desk” when we ran into computer problems. Needless to say, me not being particularly computer savvy, we talked a lot. One of our first phone conversations, I pulled the phone cord out of the wall in an attempt to unplug the computer from the monitor…..DEFINITELY CHALLENGED! He would come into town to work in our office occasionally when the task called for a live person. I’ll just say this: I don’t believe in love at first sight. I think that’s silly. Love is a decision, it’s a choice, it’s work and it’s not always pretty. But after meeting David I will say that I DEFINITELY believe in that “connection” at first sight. From the first time I met him, I wanted to be near him. It reminds me of the Brian Andreas saying:
When I first met him, I knew in a moment I would
have to spend the next few days re-arranging my
mind so there'd be room for him to stay.
have to spend the next few days re-arranging my
mind so there'd be room for him to stay.
He was handsome and charming and funny and kind and smart and patient and most of all, calm. It was his “calm” that I liked the best. I like him right off and I smiled and laughed and flirted as best I could in an office environment. But it wasn’t until he suggested that it “just might be more efficient” if we walked around together and he called out the serial numbers on the computers as I wrote them down, that I knew he was kinda feeling the same way. (Side note: I am slightly dyslexic and being nervous only made it worse. He was calling out numbers and I was just trying to get them on the page. Later he confessed that a lot of the numbers were wrong. Anyone who has ever rambled off a phone number to me knows what I’m talking about…..”Wait, Wait….you said 347?” “Oh! 437 got it!” ) Anyhow, one thing lead to another and over a year later I moved to Hartford where I lived one street over in a little tiny apartment for about 22 months, trying to decide if he was “worth all this”. Long story short, he is.
THE DECISION
When we actually decided to get married is up for debate. David decided much earlier than I did. We talked about it off and on. He was on and I was off. “I just need more time,” I’d say. He’d reluctantly agree. “I love it here”, I’d say in the spring when we watched the boats sail by over lobster rolls and ice cream cones. “I hate it here”, I’d say when the wind was biting on my face and the wet cold of the snow was starting to creep into the top of my shoes and gloves. I went through waves of emotions, adjustments, even a bad winter depression. Some days I wanted to leave more than anything in the world and then other days wild horses couldn’t drag me away. Back and forth - through it all David remained “calm” and patient and waited for me to settle into this new life here in New England. Despite everything else, my love for David always grew.
So on March 21st, just one month before we were married, on a Sunday afternoon while sitting on the back deck with the unseasonably warm sun in our face, we planned to elope. We planned it top to bottom in an hour’s time with a phone and a laptop. Only a spur of the moment trot to a Vegas wedding chapel could have been faster. The plan was this: We had already planned to go to Dallas in April for Dad’s birthday. We tried to move the tickets up, but the fees were exorbitant. So, we started lying. I emailed Mom (too afraid I couldn’t pull this off over the phone) and told her that we were going to have to come in a day later. I took an extra day off work. We made hotel and JP arrangements. In less time than an episode of American Idol, we had everything settled:
THE DECISION
When we actually decided to get married is up for debate. David decided much earlier than I did. We talked about it off and on. He was on and I was off. “I just need more time,” I’d say. He’d reluctantly agree. “I love it here”, I’d say in the spring when we watched the boats sail by over lobster rolls and ice cream cones. “I hate it here”, I’d say when the wind was biting on my face and the wet cold of the snow was starting to creep into the top of my shoes and gloves. I went through waves of emotions, adjustments, even a bad winter depression. Some days I wanted to leave more than anything in the world and then other days wild horses couldn’t drag me away. Back and forth - through it all David remained “calm” and patient and waited for me to settle into this new life here in New England. Despite everything else, my love for David always grew.
So on March 21st, just one month before we were married, on a Sunday afternoon while sitting on the back deck with the unseasonably warm sun in our face, we planned to elope. We planned it top to bottom in an hour’s time with a phone and a laptop. Only a spur of the moment trot to a Vegas wedding chapel could have been faster. The plan was this: We had already planned to go to Dallas in April for Dad’s birthday. We tried to move the tickets up, but the fees were exorbitant. So, we started lying. I emailed Mom (too afraid I couldn’t pull this off over the phone) and told her that we were going to have to come in a day later. I took an extra day off work. We made hotel and JP arrangements. In less time than an episode of American Idol, we had everything settled:
Wednesday get married
Thursday leave for Dallas as planned, but stay at The Mansion on Turtle Creek for a night on our own
Friday break it to the folks
(something I desperately wanted to do in person)
After months of waiting, we were not only looking forward, we were rolling forward down a hill….full speed ahead. One month later, we'd be husband and wife.
THE RING
David asked me months ago what type of ring I wanted. I knew I wanted something different….something vintage…..a retro feel. We’d looked at stores and on-line on a few different occasions. “I want something that they would have on Mad Men,” I told him, “Something from the good ‘ol days”. He found a dosey! It’s the perfect ring and I love it! He’s better equipped to tell this part of the story, but from what I gathered from him, he ordered it sight unseen from a website. Very brave, I say. The detail on the ring is just amazing. I love it! It looks like this one minus the under wedding band. He gave it to me and I wore it to dinner to show it off. Then I put it back in the box in order to keep everything a complete secret. I went to work the next day, dying to bust out and tell everyone. I was dying to call home. But we kept our secret waiting for the "big reveal" as it were. David went to Florida the next day for 5 days and left me all alone with my secret. I'd pull the ring out and wear it from time to time in private, but left it at home when I went out in public.
THE LICENSE
Thursday, April 8th David and I were meeting at the town hall after work to get our license. (Thursday is the night the Town Hall is open until 6:00p.m.) We'd downloaded the application and filled it all out. Dug out all our necessary paperwork. We needed the place of our parents' birth, so I had emailed Grandmommy and Mom to make sure I had it right. David called his mom and double checked his info. The application sat on the kitchen table for a day or two. We were ready! I had never been to the Hebron Town Hall before, so I decided I better google an address to put in my GPS - so I wouldn't be late. I pulled up the town site and saw this: "Marriage licenses and Civil Union licenses must be obtained in the town where the ceremony is to be held." What?? We weren't getting married in Hebron, we were getting married in Old Saybrook! I emailed David. I did some more googling and found this on the Old Saybrook town site: "As of October 1, 2009, a Connecticut marriage or civil union license can only be obtained from the Connecticut town in which the ceremony will be performed." REALLY?? Oh boy, well, better find when their late night is - hope it's not an Evan night as we are trying to fly under the radar. I google more - David and I are flying emails back and forth - he calls the town and I find this: Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Our conclusion was the same: We were going to have to get it the morning of the elopement, April 21st.
Thursday, April 8th David and I were meeting at the town hall after work to get our license. (Thursday is the night the Town Hall is open until 6:00p.m.) We'd downloaded the application and filled it all out. Dug out all our necessary paperwork. We needed the place of our parents' birth, so I had emailed Grandmommy and Mom to make sure I had it right. David called his mom and double checked his info. The application sat on the kitchen table for a day or two. We were ready! I had never been to the Hebron Town Hall before, so I decided I better google an address to put in my GPS - so I wouldn't be late. I pulled up the town site and saw this: "Marriage licenses and Civil Union licenses must be obtained in the town where the ceremony is to be held." What?? We weren't getting married in Hebron, we were getting married in Old Saybrook! I emailed David. I did some more googling and found this on the Old Saybrook town site: "As of October 1, 2009, a Connecticut marriage or civil union license can only be obtained from the Connecticut town in which the ceremony will be performed." REALLY?? Oh boy, well, better find when their late night is - hope it's not an Evan night as we are trying to fly under the radar. I google more - David and I are flying emails back and forth - he calls the town and I find this: Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Our conclusion was the same: We were going to have to get it the morning of the elopement, April 21st.
I freaked out, as usual. My itinerary was already typed out. I had planned the day in my mind over and over to come up with the best timeline - maximizing my sleep and getting ready time to ensure a slow peaceful morning and still get everything done. WHY??? And then caught myself and laughed. Really, God? You are taking my wedding day to teach me a control lesson? REALLY?? Alright....I googled all I could to make sure I had all of the right information this time. I revised my itinerary and decided that we would have to "wing it". (Not my strong suit) The Old Saybrook Town Hall was on Main (same as the inn) and it should be an easy process. It'll be fun really I told myself - even more of an elopement feel - I guess people here can decide on a whim to get married much like Vegas. Huh....but the thing to remember is this place is not like Dallas, TX. It's the kind of place where someone could be sick - or at lunch - or whatever and you have to wait or come back the next day to get your paperwork. It's very laid back and "country" and small here (Brady, TX is bigger!), so you just have to know how it works in the back of your head and roll with it. I'd be more comfortable if it was Hartford or even Glastonbury. But little Old Saybrook, well....I emailed David one last email: "Glad we didn't tell anyone. At least this way if it all falls through, no one will know." As I'm writing this on 04/09/2010, I have no idea how the rest of this blog will turn out! ;)
THE WAITING
This was a whirlwind weekend! I have a new little nephew that I can't wait to meet! That was the most exciting thing by far. He came this weekend while we were running around. In fact, I spoke to my brother on the phone while in the store with David getting his ring. We went shopping and got new clothes for David. I bought a couple of things, but not much. I still have some shopping and planning and cleaning and packing to do. Good thing we have one more weekend. It's Monday morning now and we are in the single digits: 9 more days to before I become Kimberly Oakes (KLO - ha - how's that for initials?) and it's bringing up a lot of feelings. It's hard keeping such a big secret. I am dying to tell someone! I am excited and anticipating what my new life path will entail.....what will the challenges be? the adventures? the joys and the heartbreaks...how high will the highs be and how low the lows? I am still nervous, yep, I won't lie. But I am ready to see where this new life takes me. I am excited to start this next step...
THE WEEKEND
It's the weekend before and we are spending it moving, cleaning, painting and organizing. I am on the second floor of my apartment and David is making room for me on the second floor of the house and in the basement. I must have climbed over 1,000 stairs on Saturday alone going up and down - up and down! "...Last chance workout," I'd say to myself as I carry yet another box down the stairs.
THE WEEKEND
It's the weekend before and we are spending it moving, cleaning, painting and organizing. I am on the second floor of my apartment and David is making room for me on the second floor of the house and in the basement. I must have climbed over 1,000 stairs on Saturday alone going up and down - up and down! "...Last chance workout," I'd say to myself as I carry yet another box down the stairs.
First up, I had to clean my apartment top to bottom. I ended up throwing out a lot of stuff that I really didn't need. David brought over a black-eye and left for Home Depot to get some paint. I pulled out all the contents of my closets first and piled them in the middle of the bed. One of the last things was Grandad's hat. I opened the box, put it on and walked to the bathroom to take a look. Exxon patches in my hand, I stared into the mirror, burst into tears and called Grandmommy. We talked for close to an hour while I sat in the floor folding clothes. I desperately wanted to tell her what I was doing and why, but settled for a "see you in few days".
David's graciously given me my own little place down in the basement. There's a room with a desk where I can hang out: a quiet place to read, watch tv and "time-out" if I need it. There is a bathroom down there that I can fix up and organize all my "girly" things. He put in a lock on the door and a cabinet for me yesterday and I will bring over the bathroom stuff Marsha bought for me when I moved - browns and blues - I love it! I didn't want to give that up. There's room for an eventual exercise machine and lots of space for storage, a small closet for photos, shoes and clothes and shelves for the few things I have left that I can't bare to part with. I have walls to hang my Brian Andreas' and photos of family. I love it and was thankful to have a little spot to call my own. It's tricky blending lives as we are. David and Evan have routines. They already have a home here. It's theirs and has been for some time. It's a little complicated coming in this late in the game - probably more so than I even realize now, but I am thankful to have someone like David who is so flexible and accommodating and eager to help the transition go smoothly - just as he was when I first moved to CT. This weekend has been a lot of work, but I am even more excited than ever to start the next step in this journey. I'm counting the hours until Wednesday!
THE DAY
I left at 9:00am to go to Glastonbury to get my nails done. Came back around 11:45am and we left about 12:15pm or so for Old Saybrook. (Which I must admit was a bigger town than I realized...it's even bigger than Glastonbury.) We drove to the Town Hall and had our license within minutes. David was really nervous. (We both were.) I was my usual nervous, but I didn't realize that David was nervous until he started to fill out the check for the license. His hands were shaky and he couldn't figure out how to spell "clerk". His check read Town Clerck. He scribbled over the c and ripped the check out in a rigid tear that tore into the check itself. He folded it up and started over. His nervous made me more nervous. ha....We went down the road to the Pratt House. We pulled in about 1:30pm, but we didn't need to be there until 1:45-1:50 or so, so we pulled out and took a drive by the water to calm us - I think. We drove around and looked at the beach houses, the ocean, the town and then pulled back in about 1:45pm.
I left at 9:00am to go to Glastonbury to get my nails done. Came back around 11:45am and we left about 12:15pm or so for Old Saybrook. (Which I must admit was a bigger town than I realized...it's even bigger than Glastonbury.) We drove to the Town Hall and had our license within minutes. David was really nervous. (We both were.) I was my usual nervous, but I didn't realize that David was nervous until he started to fill out the check for the license. His hands were shaky and he couldn't figure out how to spell "clerk". His check read Town Clerck. He scribbled over the c and ripped the check out in a rigid tear that tore into the check itself. He folded it up and started over. His nervous made me more nervous. ha....We went down the road to the Pratt House. We pulled in about 1:30pm, but we didn't need to be there until 1:45-1:50 or so, so we pulled out and took a drive by the water to calm us - I think. We drove around and looked at the beach houses, the ocean, the town and then pulled back in about 1:45pm.
It was a nice little B&B. The people were nice and the place was really cute. We got married in the front room which reminded me a lot of our blue living room on Allenwood. Mom would have loved this place! The ceremony was short and sweet. We laughed on the way home that it was truly an "elopement" not a "wedding." But an easy, low-key elopement was just what I wanted.
We went to our favorite little place - Bar Amercain at the casino - for dinner. We had our favorite seafood sampler compete with lobster, crab and shrimp. I had the lamb chops with a corn tart and David had this fabulous red snapper, Florida style. If anything rivals the fried chicken there (still my personal favorite), it might be this dish. Red snapper crusted with plantains topped with a mango-avocado salsa all served over black bean puree with spinach. YUM!! We played our typical $20 a piece on the party slot machine and walked out with $50.03...ha....always makes it more fun to play when you don't lose the money, even if it is only $40.
It was a nice day...a quiet unassuming Wednesday afternoon. And now I am typing this on Thursday morning and we are getting ready to fly out to Dallas today. I am "unlocking" the blog so that I can share it with everyone. We should be at The Mansion by 6:00 tonight and we are looking forward to the next several days. It's going to be a whirlwind in Texas, but we can't wait to tell everyone, see Luke and celebrate Dad's 65th birthday. What a trip!
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